1   vs.   3   

Another great game but our team and another precious 3 points against a hard team to beat away Torino.

First half was terrible: Lazio was not playing their usual game and Torino began to take advantage and press forward. Pandev scored on the half hour, but we did not deserve the lead overall. In general, the match was boring. Bianchi hit a post with a fantastic shot which had passed Carrizo. I was hardly waiting for the whistle as I was sure Delio Rossi had plenty to say to his players.

And I was right. Second half brough Lazio that we saw against Fiorentina, with domination of the midfield and fast passes up front for Pandev and Zarate. There were couple of offsides that were called against us which were dubious. And in the midst of our pressure, here comes Zarate who fires a terrific shot and in the ball goes. 2-0 and the match appears to be over as Torino players got tired running up and down chasing the ball. Last two goals were scored from the penalties. First one by Zarate (6 goals in 5 matches WOW) and Amoruso after the 90th minute.

What I find a problem about Zarate and Pandev is that they are getting booked quite often because they try to stop the opposite team executing fouls. That must stop immediately because the yellow cards will cummulate and they will then miss important matches.

In case you need a more detailed match report you can find it here from Channel4.

Match photos can be viewed here:

And here is the 4minutes something highlights of the match.

An amazing performance and a fantastic win. Nothing more to be wished for us except for Zarate to have scored. It was the match I enjoyed the most in the last couple of years, save maybe for the derby win from last season when Valon Behrami scored in the end.

What else can I say, all the players had a terrific game. There is no one I could distinguish more then the others. Defense was fantastic, Lichtsteiner has become one hell of a right back. Congratulation for the management for bringing an anonymous player which such a potential.

Zarate was one again spectacular. He has chances to score at least 3 times but I guess it wasn`t his night to score. Keep up the same tempo amigo. Pandev was simply huge last night, a real architecht of our attacks. Good that Rossi took him out earlier: we need him fresh for Torino and other matches.

Bravo ragazzi: goals and match report tomorrow.

VS.             

Before the Milan match, I considered Fiorentina to be our toughest test so far in the season. However, given Fiorentina`s surprising poor results, or to say better poorer then expected given their extraordinary activity in the transfer market, this may be a match we can win after all. Fiorentina has set a remarkable attacking duo in the shape of Mutu and especially rejuventated Gilardino who is unstoppable since his move from Milan last summer.

Ok now, enough with Viola and let me write now about Lazio. Actually, I expect Delio Rossi to introduce at least 4 new players from the Milan match. I think fresh blood is needed because some players have to get rest and some others needed to stay on the bench for purely tactical reasons. There are rumours today that coash might leave out for this match the entire defense, save for Siviglia who has been really consistent so far. Mauri might be left out as well given his horrible run of form which continues to hun him from last season. Foggia or Meghni should step in for him. The central midfield should remain the same as well as the attacking duo of Zarate and Pandev.

All in all I expect the following formation tomorrow:

Carrizo; De Silvestri – Siviglia – Cribari – Radu; Brocchi – Ledesma – Matuzalem; Foggi; Pandev and Zarate

One can always expect surprises from Delio Rossi or last minute injuries.

I think a good display and especially result in this match is needed for 2 reasons: 1. We have to let all the teams know that we cannot be beaten at home; and 2. Fiorentina is stronger than us in terms of players at disposal and beating them would mean we are a serious team this season capable of beating stronger teams, which was not the case last season.

I don`t know really what to say after that awful defeat from last night at the hands of AC MIlan. I was hoping more than ever for a positive result and I would bet with anyone that we could have a draw last night, given the poor performance from the host team in the last couple of games.

However, it seems like Delio Rossi just can`t think of a proper tactics when playing this team. We lose all the time and with large margins.

Let me start from the beggining: Why was Mauri tipped to start knowing his poor form and also knowing that Pasquale Foggia is much better recently ? Next thing, why not see Milan`s last 2 matches they lost against Bologna and Genoa and see what those teams have done to stop them play their deadly game ? Thirdly, what is Mauri doing at the start of the second half ? Was it not obvious that we started the match with a player less because Stefano was just lost outthere and other players, especially Pandev had to cover for him deep in the midfield instead of attacking with Zarate ?

Thirdly, noone was paying attention to Gatusso who was killing every ball possession we had. You have to make him run more at least before he gets to the ball. We had to take advantage of a slow Maldini and a clumsy Kaladze, but we failed in doing so.

I said before this match that Radu should have started instead of Kolarov, because Zambrotta is a huge player and he should be contained. And my point was proven again: unfortunately.

I don`t want to cry now for the penalties not awarded against us (both times on Mauri actually) but I am trully pissed off with Delio Rossi because of his lack of ability to field a team tactically prepared to face Milan.

The bright side of the match is Mauro Zarate who scored once again and whenever touched the ball had a couple of MIlan players running after him like cats after the mouse.

This defeat is not a tragedy, far from it actually but we must fight back and do better against Fiorentina next match.

We face a tough test on Sunday as we play AC Milan at San Siro. Match will be played at 20;30 CET and will be our first night-match.

I think this will be a unique opportunity to finally beat AC Milan away, given their poor form and some important injuries: Nesta, Pirlo above all. However, this match should not be underestimated as Milan have a remarkable team and if they have their day they may well out-play every team in the world.

Delio Rossi continues to have missing Rocchi, Dabo, Firmani and Del Nero. Good news is that, yesterday, Matuzalem and Foggia  were cleared and are available for the match. Ledesma and Brocchi should start as usual in the midfield while Zarate and Pandev up front. I am eager to see how shall coach pick as a trequartista: Mauri, Foggia or even Meghni.

You can read here a full match preview from Channel4.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish a happy birthday to our team captain: Tommaso Rocchi.

Auguri capitano

After five years, Lazio finds itself on top of the Serie A table. Yes, that is absolutely true, and we, as fans are enjoying those moments and are absolutely delighted and we all hope this run of positive display by the team and win continues.

Arrivals of Carrizo and Zarate appears to have given this team additional strenght on the goal and up front. Just imagine how our attack would have looked like if Rocchi was injured (as he is now) and without Zarate`s presence. It would be difficult to score having in mind that a certain Makinwa is the option up front. Last year, some bizzare goal keeping by Ballota and especially Muslera have caused our defenders to panic as soon as our oponents would reach the 16 meters box. Now that has been fixed with JP`s arrival.

In midfield, we also happen to have some good news. While the majority of us approved the arrival of Matuzalem, some of us (including my self) have been sceptical with Brocchi`s arrival. However, if the latter continues to play as he did against Samp last Sunday, than he will soon become fan`s loved midfielder.

Zarate has already made a huge impact in Serie A. All Italian sport dailies, web sites are writing about him and his fantastic scoring skills. Now Lotito is saying that it was him who brought the players to Rome and not Sabatini, as it appears the latter had claim. Never mind for me though, the important thing it to have him here with us.

So much for the day. Catch you tomorrow or the next day and do leave a comment if you have something to day regarding subject that I touched in this post.

The match just finished and another win for Lazio. The best way to being the new season. 6 points and a leader in the standing after 2 matches played.

Goals scored by Zarate and Pandev, one for each half.

Lazio formation that startes the match: Carrizo, Lichtsteiner, Rozenhal, Siviglia, Kolarov, Brochi, Ledesma, Meghni, Mauri, Zarate and Pandev.

Substitutions: Manfredinig for Meghni, De Silvestri for Brochi and Foggia for Mauri. All in the second half.

Highlight, match reports and goald later on.

=====

Ok, as promised you can read here the match report from Channel4. and Goal.com

Match highlights:

And finally a nice pic from the match after Zarate scoring his opener.

LAZIO – SAMPDORIA

We face Sampdoria on day 2 of Italian Serie A. The match will be played at Olimpico and this is at the same time the first match in front of the home crowed for the team. Zarate, Carrio, Lichtsteiner, Brocchi and hopefully Matuzalem will make debuts in front of the home fans at Stadio Olimpico.

At least some 30.000 people are expected to attend this match.

Sampdoria will be without their central defensive pair: Acardi and Campagari who picked up injuries on Monday while Delio Rossi will still be without Del Nero, Firmani, Dabo and most importantly Tomasso Rocchi. However, De Silvestri and Meghni recovered and are options to start. The situation regarding Matuzel is still uncertain though.

This will certainly be a difficult match considering the fact that Sampdori managed to grab a point from Inter on day 1. Cassano can always be dangerous and should be kept an eye constantly.

With regards to the line up, I think Rossi has still not decided which formation to start. The certainties include Carrizo, Siviglia, Rozenhal, Ledesma, Pandev and Zarate. Other position are up for grabs for other players.

Should I apologize for not writing for almost a week or not ? Well I guess not because as you already know, nothing important occured in this period, of course because of international friendliess that took place yesterday and last Saturday. The forums and LazioFever.org and Xtratime.org (both forums I write at have been almos ‘dead’). Luckily these matches are past us by know and we can turn our attention towards our match against Sampdoria, to take place on Sunday at 15;00 CET.

Carrizo, Pandev, Lichtsteiner, Rozenhal and Radu are expected to return during this day and tomorrow to Rome after all of them featuring for their respective NT`s. I just hope none of them has been injured during this time and will regularly take part in training.

With regards to players not involved in NT`s, there is some bad new regarding Matuzalem, who happened to have picked up an injury in the training yesterday. Ledesma and Meghi also had some problems but after scans it was established that tha nothing serious and we expect they are ready against Samp. Results for Matuzalem are expected during this day or tomorrow at most.

So much for this day, I will catch with you tomorrow for a match previw and other news is something comes up meanwhile.

James Hornacstle of Channel4 brings an editorial arguing whether Lazio can surprise everyone and break into the top-four. In case you missed it, I am bringing the entire text below. Here you can find the original.

“The world is grown so bad,” wrote William Shakespeare in Richard III. “That wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch.” Lazio fans are all too familiar with that sentiment. Four years after winning the Scudetto in 2000, the Aquilotti were practically extinct, crippled under £140m worth of debt. When Claudio Lotito took over the club in 2004, he said: “I bought Lazio at her funeral and have brought her back to life albeit in an irreversible coma.”

The meaning of his words was not lost on Biancocelesti supporters. Lazio could never go back, at least under Lotito anyway, to the carefree spending and financial largesse that typified the Sergio Cragnotti era. To them Lotito meant the end of Lazio as a force in Italian football and a return to the poverty of the `80s, a decade in which the Aquilotti’s highest finish in Serie A was ninth.

And yet Lazio are top of table in September 2008. Now, I know the season is only a week old, but isn’t it time the Biancocelesti were taken seriously again? They participated in the Champions League last year after a 15 game unbeaten run between December 2006 and April 2007 allowed them to finish in third place. An achievement made all the more remarkable by the fact they started the season on -3 points.

Last year was a write off, predominantly because of off the field matters. An investigation revealed that the Camorra, the Neapolitan mafia, tried to buy the club. The inquiry also proved embarrassing for Coach Delio Rossi as wiretaps were produced as evidence allegedly showed him “trying to induce” Lotito to use a meeting with Lecce in 2005 to influence the performance of the Giallorossi ahead of a League match with Lazio.

Rossi was suspended for three games at the end of last season and he’ll resume his place on the bench after the Biancocelesti’s game against Sampdoria on 19 September. That should signal the beginning of a more stable Lazio that will be able to get the consistency of the 2006-07 season back.

The exit of dressing room stirrers Guglielmo Stendardo, Valon Behrami and Luciano Zauri will also help the dynamic. But above all it is Lotito’s shrewd spending that will serve Lazio in good stead over the next nine months. He has cleverly invested £18m in 11 players, most notably Mauro Zarate, whose partnership with Goran Pandev could prove to be one of the best in Serie A. Every department has been strengthened either through the market or the promotion of promising youngsters like Alessandro Tuia and Mobido Diakite.

That’s much better business than spending £36m on one player as Lazio did on Hernan Crespo in 2000 and hopefully presages a marked improvement on last year’s 12th place.